Novak Djokovic: Against Del Potro, It’s A Very Even Match, I’ve Got To Give It My All

by Tom Gainey | March 14th, 2017, 9:39 am
  • 58 Comments

Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro collide again later today at Indian Wells. Djokovic leads 12-4 in their head-to-head but del Potro knocked him off at the Rio Olympics first round and then had a break advantage in the third in Acapulco before letting it slip away a few weeks ago.

And in their only Indian Wells meeting, del Potro came out on top in the 2013 semifinals.

So the 5-time champion Djokovic is wary of another encounter with the Argentine, especially this early in the tournament.


“I have to give it all,” Djokovic said of the matchup. “That’s what it takes to beat this guy.

“He’s tough player to beat. He’s big guy, big serve, big forehand. Definitely not the draw that you like early in the tournament and that you wish for, but it is what it is. I have played him some weeks ago in Acapulco. Very close match. You know, it went down to last couple of points. I don’t expect anything less than that. Very even match, and I’ve got to give it all.”

And if Djokovic wins, he faces the prospect of either Nick Kyrgios or Alexander Zverev, and then potentially Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. So to win a fourth straight Indian Wells title will be no easy task.

“I can’t really pace myself and think about what’s coming up after that, because I really have, you know, tough players to beat in the next round,” he said of this draw.

Also, today Djokovic is trying to win his 300th career Masters 1000 match and the 762nd of his career, which would tie him with Pete Sampras for 10th in the Open Era in match wins.


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58 Comments for Novak Djokovic: Against Del Potro, It’s A Very Even Match, I’ve Got To Give It My All

Tennis Vagabond Says:

Del Potro’s backhand. Since surgery, he does not always have confidence in his left wrist to hit two-handed.

If he can hit a decent number two-handed, he will be favoured. If he has to mostly slice, its Novak’s match to lose.


SG1 Says:

That’s the story for DelPotro these days. Everyone’s hitting to his backhand…a lot! If DelPo can manage that shot well and position himself to hit forehands, he’s fine. If he can’t it’s adios.


BBB Says:

Djokovic hasn’t had a very clear strategy against DelPo, as far as I can tell. I agree about the backhand, and I also think Djokovic should hit more balls with more pace. He sort of rope a dopes, as if he’s going to wear DelPo down, but it doesn’t really work.

But, so far I’ve been paid exactly $0 for my coaching advice, so maybe I’m totally wrong.


Wog Boy Says:

Delpo already beat Nole in IW by slicing and dicing, people should press refresh button, the court suits him perfectly, slower with higher bounce, pleanty of time for Delpo to set up his deadly FH or slice BH until he can run around BH and hit FH. Nole doesn’t have weapon to beat him on that court, he cannot hit through him or any player anymore, as for hitting with more pace, with what, skin and bone and no flesh? Some people refuse to see and accept in what state of mind and body Nole is. No, Nole doesn’t have any strength for more pace.
Delpo in two.


Wog Boy Says:

His first serve will be 180km/h if so, and second 140km/h, Serena has better serve and would have no problem of returning Nole’s serve.


skeezer Says:

Fed onward!


skeezer Says:

Dimi-Sock in a barn burner!


skeezer Says:

“Delpo in two.”
Pathetic Nole fan base.
Novak in 2!!!


skeezer Says:

Congrats to Sock, great win.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Well, I’m wrong so far. Del Potro is managing a good number of 2 handed backhands, but Novak has the first set and looks good to start the second.
Good news story for both players’ 2017 prospects in my opinion.


BBB Says:

Courier was explaining which 2 handers DelPo can hit and which ones he can’t, but I admit that the way he discussed it was over my head. Something about dipping.


BBB Says:

To add – this is where we need Cliff Drysdale. He explains that stuff like no one else.


BBB Says:

Holy smokes. that backhand was nuts. we are seeing some novak of old all of a sudden.


skeezer Says:

The weak era is confirmed. Novak needs 3 sets to beat the has been Loved Delpo who now has no BH.
If your a novak fan I guess you now say;
BABY steps?


Wog Boy Says:

Kyrgios in two.


Wog Boy Says:

I can see somebody is nervous=hungry:

https://youtu.be/WPSQGwRZlFc


Van Persie Says:

WB,

I think it will be in 3. Nole has 2 days now to recover :)


Wog Boy Says:

You are right VP, Kyrgios in three;)


Wog Boy Says:

But keep in mind that he is playing doubles with Viktor and they are having fun.


Wog Boy Says:

VP,

I just checked, Nole is playing Kyrgios tomorrow day time! If my app is correct, not even one day to recover, plus doubles match, hot (35 degrees) and dry air, perfect for the good server, I might go back to Kyrgios in two.

How come he doesnt have one day break, again if my app is right?!


Czarlazar Says:

Just finished watching the Delpo/Nole battle and mighty impressed with the Serb’s fighting spirit and intensity. He started meekly, with softball pace on groundstrokes and serve, but ramped it up big time. Now this looks like Djokovic again, clawing for points, ripping winners from both sides and going for the odd down the line backhand at key moments — including match point. Looks like he switched from regular to ultra high energy dates and took an extra helping of New Zealand bee pollen. Whatever it is, I like what I see and want my seat back on the bandwagon. If he plays like this, it’s an easy two set win over Kyrgios, and a dreamy matchup in the quarters against one of his fellow GOATs.


Wog Boy Says:

Yes, BHDTL made a difference.


skeezer Says:

Swish! BHBTB made the difference.
http://flip.it/qyvkik


Wog Boy Says:

Yes VP, that’s “fair” roster, to play evening match and next day day match.


Van Persie Says:

Well WB, his doubles match is a night match at least :)


Danica Says:

Novak is looking good and contrary to what some say and want you to believe, he is not skinny. The third set was exceptional primarily due to the confidence surge. This allowed him to swing freely and play some amazing shots.

Scheduling is messed up – you finish your match last but play your next one before your biggest competition and against a player who beat you in straights a week and a half ago.


BBB Says:

Danica is some of this self infliced because of the doubles? I admire his friendship with Troicki, but Djokovic hates hot weather and he’s showing it right now.


Wog Boy Says:

“Novak is looking good and contrary to what some say and want you to believe, he is not skinny.”

I would understand that this was written by Justin Bieber fan, but not by one educated adult.
Nobody is asking anybody to “listen” us, just to use their own eyes and come to conclusion themselves. Every person I know here that follows tennis told me that Nole became too thin, I was listening that comments from the unknown people while watching him in Melbourne, in my hotel full of tennis enthusiasts everywhere, literally so, of course, if you are in denial or blind worshipper you can see it.
You should have gone to Specsavers long time ago.


Wog Boy Says:

Whenever I watch this add I think of people like you:

https://youtu.be/XWaPSl0r-Y0


Wog Boy Says:

In previous one should say: “you can’t see it” not “you can see it”.


Tom Says:

Wog, you are right. Nole hates hot weather as he showed in Mexico last week. The problem though is he plays 2 tough games against Del Potro early in tournaments and then plays Krygios in the next round who breezed in his previous match and was serving lights-out. Not to mention he played late last night and then played earlier the next day to make way for Rafa-Feds. So typical. I’ll be concerned once these whackey brackets get straightened out for the majors and there’s an off day in between. Let’s see if Krygios and the weather play a factor then (and the scheduling).


Wog Boy Says:

Tom, I wish I am as optimistic as you, but I don’t see him coming back unless he goes back to pre FO habits, what we are watching now is self destruction on unseen scale with top athletes, he has burst of energy and fire then goes flat, but not consistency, not during one single match, that is result of the state of his body and mind. The most consistent player in the last decade is nowhere to be seen.


Van Persie Says:

Nole vs DelPo was a match, between 2 players, who are not in the best shape. Expected Nole to lose to Nick, who is a great server….and ok, Nole was also drained after DelPo match.
Nole has to do something about his serve and he needs power (a few more kilos on his body would not harm) to be able, to return those bomb serves.


Czarlazar Says:

Nick definitely outplayed Novak tonight, ie, more winners, fewer errors and didn’t allow a single break point. Nole played OK, not as well as against Delpo, but really folded in the tiebreak. One small ray of hope is he’s not so gentlemanly in defeat lately and is curt and laconic during the net handshake, instead of gushing and smiling at the person who beat him. He seemed to want to win and showed some intensity, which is an upgrade compared to the loss to Istomin in Melbourne or to Murray at year end London last Nov. But he definitely needs more zip on his serve and groundstrokes and more aggression/less predictability — those crosscourt backhands are a real yawner. A better draw and a title in Miami would help him immensely but not as much as dropping the vegan diet and losing the weirdo cultists on his team.


Van Persie Says:

Starting to think he needs his a*s kicked a few more times and he will come back to his senses.


Van Persie Says:

^^ then he will know, that “love” is not enough.


Bob Lewis Says:

Some tough draws for Nole. Always getting Kyrgios and Delpo so early. He’ll be fresh for Miami. Sad to see that he’s lost a bit of his conviction and confidence. But he’ll get it back gradually.


Van Persie Says:

Regarding Nole’s weight…there were some debates here. Martina Navratilova was mentioned as vegetarian. Even she meant, Nole is to skinny.

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news/Novak_Djokovic/39845/martina-navratilova-djokovic-is-too-skinny-/


Van Persie Says:

‘You can’t be too skinny, you can’t have too low body fat,’ Navratilova told Jon Wertheim. ‘You need that body fat when you head in a long match. It seems he has no reserve.’

yep Martina, I agree. We take the energy from body fat :)


Markus Says:

When Djokovic was winning everything, people hailed his body as being perfect for tennis: lean and light with hardly anybody fat, thanks to his gluten-free diet and all kinds of things he is doing. Now that he has been losing, suddenly these same people think he is too thin, and has a bad diet. His body has hardly changed. Stop blaming his body for losing. It is such a petty and pitiful excuse.


Van Persie Says:

Fed Fans used the Mono, knees problem as excuse, Andy his back surgery, shingles, etc and Rafa wrist, knee problems, so on.
Djoko fans are also entitled to have this one. Navratilova agrees. I guess, I am allowed to trust her more then you.


HJF Says:

A bit defensive though ….


Van Persie Says:

should we be offensive?


Wog Boy Says:

Nole had 80kg, his optimal naturl weight through entire career, until FO2016, today he is 75kg and going down, so why don’t you just STFU and stop making an i@iot of yourself, but if you use Filo language you might look less i@iotic than usual, nobody will understand you.


HJF Says:

Sure Whatever makes you feel better ! ….


Van Persie Says:

^^ WB just made you happy, HJF ;)


Wog Boy Says:

VP,
I posted that bag check video from five years ago few threads ago, anybody can compare Noles legs arms, face (cheeks) with todays Nole and unless they are blind or stupid they will say that his weight hardly changed.


Tennis Lover Says:

Does Nole fan understand he is the Satan of tennis. He has doggedly defiled the tennis and spit on the beauty of the game…Wog boy and Travis have a really shallow brain to understand the fact. Indeed you are out of your sanity when you are under the influence of that Tennis Satan


Wog Boy Says:

Here we go again, multiple monikers, very shallow.


Van Persie Says:

^^, ok, that’s a funny one

WB,
Nole did this to himself. Nobody forced him. That’s very annoying.
Will be off now, just posted during lunch break.


Tennis Lover Says:

Wog Boy What about leaving Novak satanovich from your worshiping list..Do you not find some other player and give some healing to your soul?? why you have to bark meaninglessly for Nole


Wog Boy Says:

No probs, I am off too, I live that dude to talk to himself through multiple monikers, he must be lonely and sad soul.


Wog Boy Says:

^^^ leave not live


Van Persie Says:

and why you have to bark meaninglessly against Nole ??

ok, really off now, just could not help myself. byes


Van Persie Says:

“and why you have to bark meaninglessly against Nole ??” was meant for Tennis Lover, not for you WB


Tennis Lover Says:

Leave Novak and get healed, that’s the only way…there are dozens other good players to support..just leave a Tennis Satan whom you bragged so much about to break Federer’s record


Wog Boy Says:

VP,
👍

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